Penetrating Fluids
July 2009
by Jim Morrison
Machinist’s Workshop magazine tested the effectiveness of different penetrating fluids for break out torque on rusted nuts and bolts.
They arranged a subjective test of the fluids using the torque required to remove the nut from a “scientifically rusted” environment.
The results of their tests were:
PENETRATING FLUID
|
AVERAGE BREAKAWAY TORQUE |
None |
516 pounds |
WD-40 |
238 pounds |
PB Blaster |
214 pounds |
Liquid Wrench |
127 pounds |
Kano Aerokroil |
106 pounds |
ATF-Acetone mix |
53 pounds |
The ATF-Acetone mix was a 50/50 “home brew” of automatic transmission fluid and acetone.
Kind of makes you wonder about all those others, doesn’t it?